The invention relates to a control and/or data-transmission system comprising a number of i/O modules connected in series one adjacent to the other and a control and/or data-transmission module, as well as a control and/or data-transmission module for controlling i/O modules for such a control and data-transmission system. The invention proposes a control and data-transmission system that comprises a number of i/O modules connected in series one adjacent to each other, wherein each i/O module comprises at least one i/O signal channel and also at least one first signal terminal for connecting the i/O signal channel to a data bus and at least one second signal terminal for connecting a bus subscriber to the i/O signal channel, and wherein the system comprises a control and/or data-transmission module that comprises control electronics for the selective control of the number of i/O modules and that forms a detachable unit.
|
1. A control and data-transmission system comprising:
a plurality of i/O modules (100 . . . 107) arranged in series one adjacent to the other, wherein each i/O module in the plurality of i/O modules comprises at least one i/O signal channel, as well as at least one first signal terminal for connecting the i/O signal channel to a data bus and at least one second signal terminal for connecting a bus subscriber to the i/O signal channel; and
a control and/or data-transmission module (300), wherein the control and/or data-transmission module comprises control electronics for selective control of the i/O modules and is interconnected mechanically to the i/O modules and forms, with these modules, a detachable unit, and wherein the plurality of i/O modules is provided, in order to contain the control and/or data-transmission module (300).
14. A control and/or data-transmission module for controlling i/O modules for a control and data-transmission system in which each i/O module comprises at least one i/O signal channel and also a first signal terminal for connecting the i/O signal channel to a data bus and second signal terminal for connecting a bus subscriber to the i/O signal channel and each i/O module further has a first connection device, wherein the control and/or data transmission module comprises:
a plurality of second connection devices, each of the second connection devices is constructed complementary to the first connection devices of an i/O, and the plurality of second connection devices are arranged in series on a housing of the control and/or data-transmission module for the detachable, mechanical connection of the control and/or data-transmission module to a corresponding plurality of i/O modules arranged in series one adjacent to the other, wherein the control and/or data-transmission module is containable by the plurality of i/O modules arranged in series one next to the other; and
control electronics accommodated in the housing for the selective control of i/O modules connected to the control and/or data-transmission module.
2. The control and data-transmission system according to
3. The control and data-transmission system according to
4. The control and data-transmission system according to
5. The control and data-transmission system according to
6. The control and data-transmission system according to
7. The control and data-transmission system according to
8. The control and data-transmission system according to
9. The control and data-transmission system according to
10. The control and data-transmission system according to
11. The control and data-transmission system according to
12. The control and data-transmission system according to
13. The control and data-transmission system according to
15. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
16. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
17. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
18. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
19. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
20. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
21. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
22. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
23. The control and/or data-transmission module according to
|
The invention relates to a control and/or data-transmission system comprising a number of I/O modules connected in series one adjacent to the other and a control and/or data-transmission module, as well as a control and data-transmission module for controlling I/O modules for such a control and data-transmission system.
In the field of automotive engineering, for the automation of complex, logical links, error processes, or time sequences, time relays, counters, or relays often satisfy the requirements according to a universal controller only to a limited extent. Compact SPS (memory programmable control) systems are often overdimensioned in their technical equipment features for small applications and consequently are also too expensive in production.
In order to close these gaps, small or very small control modules or logic modules are known that offer to the user the advantage that he can still realize a large number of applications from the lower power range only with an automation component. According to the model and expansion, between 6 and 48 inputs or outputs, called I/O below, can be processed with such control or logic modules currently on the market. For the subsequent description and the claims, it is further assumed that a signal coming from, processed by, or merely passed through a bus subscriber, e.g., a sensor, is led to a data bus via an input and a signal coming from, processed by, or merely passed through a data bus is led to a bus subscriber, e.g., an actuator, via an output.
The programming of such control or logic modules can be performed, for example, directly on the control or logic module and/or with graphical software. In many cases, this is realized using a functional block technique that is also easy to perform without programming knowledge. In all of the currently known control or logic modules, the following basic functions and functional blocks are standards: AND, OR, NOT, XOR, NAND, NOR, switching delay, pulse generator, current pulse relay, counter, clock generator.
All control or logic modules currently available on the market are available in nearly uniform housings that are adapted for small/field distributors. Individually, there are also printed circuit board variants.
Relays to be controlled, however, are integrated rigidly in the control or logic modules. Standard modern modules typically have 8 inputs and 4 outputs, wherein, for example, 6 inputs are provided for digital signals and 2 inputs are provided for analog signals. Variants with relay or transistor outputs are also known.
One essential disadvantage of the state of the art is that, in such control or logic modules, only a fixed number of inputs and outputs can always be provided. In addition, if a relay should become defective, then the entire control or logic module must be exchanged.
Thus, one problem of the invention consists in creating a system with which a plurality of terminals of a small control and/or data-transmission module can be used individually as an input or as an output for a control and/or data-transmission signal.
Another problem further consists in that I/O electronics could be allocated individually to each input or output.
Another problem consists in that, in the case of a defect in the I/O electronics, a faster and simpler exchange is possible.
The invention thus proposes a control and data-transmission system that comprises a number of I/O modules arranged in series one adjacent to the other, wherein each I/O module comprises at least one I/O signal channel and also at least one first signal terminal for connecting the I/O signal channel to a data bus and at least one second signal terminal for connecting a bus subscriber to the I/O signal channel, and wherein the system comprises a control and/or data-transmission module that comprises control electronics for the selective control of the number of I/O modules and is interconnected mechanically to the number of I/O modules and forms, with these modules, a detachable unit.
The invention further proposes a control and/or data-transmission module for controlling I/O modules for a control and data-transmission system in which each I/O module comprises at least one I/O signal channel and also one first signal terminal for connecting the I/O signal channel to a data bus and second signal terminal for connecting a bus subscriber to the I/O signal channel and each I/O module further has a first connection device. The control and/or data-transmission module has a number of second connection devices that are constructed complementary to the first connection devices and that are arranged in series on the housing of the control and/or data-transmission module for the detachable, mechanical connection of the control and/or data-transmission module to a corresponding number of I/O modules arranged in series one adjacent to the other, and control electronics accommodated in the housing for the targeted control of I/O modules connected to the control and/or data-transmission module.
The control and data-transmission module comprises a number of third signal terminals allocated to the control electronics corresponding to the number of I/O modules connected to this module, wherein the number of third signal terminals and the number of second connection devices are arranged relative to each other such that when the control and/or data-transmission module is connected to the number of I/O modules, a third signal terminal is paired with a first signal terminal or a third signal terminal is paired with a second signal terminal.
The control and data-transmission system preferably further has a number of fourth signal terminals that are allocated to the control electronics and that are accessible for pairing from outside the control and/or data-transmission module. The fourth signal terminals are connected, in particular, to an integrated terminal strip.
The control electronics of the control and data-transmission module according to the invention is preferably programmable. For this purpose, the module comprises, in particular, a communications interface connector for connecting the control electronics to a remote data-processing device.
For preparing the signal channel, an I/O module preferably comprises I/O electronics that are arranged between the first and second signal terminals and that preferably can be plugged into the I/O module.
The I/O modules could comprise fifth signal terminals for connecting the I/O electronics to a bus connector, wherein the I/O electronics are constructed for transmitting data between the fifth signal terminal and the first signal terminal or for transmitting data between the fifth signal terminal and the second signal terminal.
In an especially preferred way, the control and data-transmission module is constructed with a communications interface connector connected to the control electronics for connecting the control and/or data-transmission module to another control and/or data-transmission module.
It is further advantageous to provide the control and/or data-transmission module with an ejection device for the manual detachment of the connection between the control and/or data-transmission module and the number of I/O modules.
In summary, the invention thus guarantees a control and/or data-transmission system in which a control and/or data-transmission module can be connected detachably to a given number of I/O modules, in particular, by a plug-in or clamp connection. Thus, according to the arrangement of the I/O modules, each terminal could be defined, in principle, as an input or output and, according to preferred refinements, I/O electronics could be allocated individually to each input or output, wherein, in a further preferred refinement, the connection between the I/O module and I/O electronics is also detachable, so that, e.g., the I/O electronics of one I/O module could also be exchanged without exchanging this I/O module. The I/O modules that could be connected to a control and/or data-transmission module according to the invention could also be assembled individually, for example, with the function of a relay, optocoupler, PLC-VT, or also a simple signal pass-through module.
In case of a defect in an I/O module or I/O electronics, the defective part or parts can be exchanged easily and thus replaced by new part or parts. By means of a terminal strip integrated in the control and/or data-transmission module, an additional number of advantageously digital inputs and/or outputs can be processed. Furthermore, according to preferred embodiments, several control and/or data-transmission modules can be interconnected and operated in common, but also individually, for example, by means of a control module adapted as a master. The programming of the control electronics is preferably performed by means of software, wherein the control program is created, for example, by means of function building blocks. Thus, user-based function building blocks could also be created and integrated into a base program. Consequently, such function building blocks can be easily exported and/or imported, e.g., by means of a connected PC.
The invention will be described in greater detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Shown in the drawings are:
At first, reference is made to
Such an I/O module, e.g., sold by Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co., Blomberg, or another module is connected in a known way between a bus subscriber, such as, for example, actuators, sensors, and other devices, and a data bus of an automation system. According to which bus subscriber or which type of bus subscriber is coupled via the I/O module to the data bus, the corresponding I/O module 100 or the I/O electronics 110 in the case of an I/O module that can be equipped individually with I/O electronics provide a signal channel by means of which, with reference to the data bus, input signals or output signals, i.e., control and/or data-transmission signals, are processed in a given way. The I/O modules and/or the I/O electronics can furthermore also be constructed for providing signal channels merely for passing through such signals, i.e., without performing signal processing. The power supply for the module electronics and the power supply for the bus subscribers connected to the I/O module can be realized separately or together.
In each case, however, at least one terminal as a control signal and/or data-transmission signal terminal, also called signal terminals below and in the claims, is allocated to the signal channel of the I/O module or the I/O electronics set via a terminal line paired with this channel as an input or output to the data bus. In the present example according to
A plurality of such I/O modules that comprise relays or optocouplers with terminals for digital or also analog signal processing or that also provide merely simple pass modules for passing through a control and/or data-transmission signal can be arranged in series in a known way one adjacent to the other, according to
Through the arrangement of connecting pieces 330 and pluggable contact terminals in series one next to the other provided by the application-specific control and/or data-transmission signal terminals that are arranged in series one next to the other and that are connected accordingly to control electronics integrated in the module for signal processing, the control and/or data-transmission module 300 according to the invention consequently can be connected mechanically to a predetermined number of I/O modules arranged in series one next to the other. The arrangement of the pluggable contact terminals on the connecting pieces also offers an extremely efficient arrangement between the mechanical connection devices of the module 300 and the control and/or data-transmission signal terminals of the module 300, in order to allow, when the module 300 is connected to the I/O modules 100 . . . 107, a pairing of a corresponding control and/or data-transmission signal terminal of the module 300 with a correspondingly to be allocated control and/or data-transmission terminal 121b of an I/O module.
The control module further has a power-supply terminal 340. Furthermore, the shown control and/or data-transmission module is configured with a communications interface 341, in the present example, an RS 232 interface, for programming the control electronics that are integrated in the module 300 and that comprise, in particular, a CPU, via an external PC.
The control and/or data-transmission module further comprises a terminal strip 342, in the present example, an 8-pole clamping strip, by means of which additional input signals can be processed with the control electronics and that provides, according to the configuration from
In addition, the control module has a communications interface 343 for communicating with another, not-shown control and/or data-transmission module. Another such control and/or data-transmission module can comprise, in turn, another corresponding communications interface, in order to connect again another control and/or data-transmission module to the system. The control and/or data-transmission module shown in
For example, the control electronics of the shown control and/or data-transmission module is constructed to be able to process 48 I/O's in a digital and/or analog way, so that, in this case, three control and/or data-transmission modules as shown in
Whether the I/O modules connected to a control and/or data-transmission module 300 provide relays, optocouplers, and/or additional I/O electronics or also only pure pass modules can be set by means of the program on the programmable control electronics of the control and/or data-transmission module 300, so that the control electronics of each I/O module can be used accordingly. Each I/O module thus can be equipped individually and one is not limited to one component type for all of the control electronics. Instead, the inputs and outputs can be equipped as the user requires.
The programming of the control electronics is preferably performed by means of software and the control program is created, for example, by means of function building blocks. User-based function building blocks can be created and integrated into a given basic program for expansion. Due to the communications interfaces integrated in the control and/or data-transmission module, such expanded function building blocks can also be exported or imported and consequently, in a simple way, a simulation on a computer for programming can also be easily performed by means of monitoring.
An additional or alternative possibility for programming or also parameterizing the control electronics of the control and/or data-transmission module or its states in the inverse direction, for example, displaying on an HMI, consists in using I/O modules that have at least one additional signal terminal that can be connected to a bus plug.
Such a bus plug 400 is to be inferred, for example, from
In the case of the I/O module 109 shown in
Rasche, Alexander, Hudetz, Hans-Peter, Haumersen, Udo
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
11683901, | May 02 2017 | ASCO, L P | Modular electrical fieldbus system with stacked interconnected functional components |
8894425, | Dec 17 2009 | PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG | Connection system for connecting a single row housing to a terminal element |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
4477862, | May 19 1982 | SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION INC | Backplane connector |
4558914, | Sep 23 1982 | SCHNEIDER AUTOMATION INC | Readily expandable input/output construction for programmable controller |
4790762, | Jul 23 1985 | HONEYWELL INC , HONEYWELL PLAZA, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55408 A CORP OF DE | Backplane for a modularly expandable programmable controller |
5641313, | Jan 18 1994 | Wago Verwaltungsgellschft mbH | I/O module for a databus |
5961335, | Nov 22 1996 | Wieland Electric GmbH | Decentralized input/output module for a data bus |
6027379, | Nov 28 1996 | WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH | Rail-mounted terminal blocks having lateral bridging contacts |
6038130, | Sep 13 1995 | WHITAKER CORPORATION, THE | Electrical interconnection system for stackable electronic modules |
6172875, | Nov 17 1998 | HORN, JOHN J | Programmable logic controller module assembly and locking system |
6175932, | Apr 20 1998 | National Instruments Corporation | System and method for providing state capture and restoration to an I/O system |
6308231, | Sep 29 1998 | ALLEN-BRADLEY CO , LLC | Industrial control systems having input/output circuits with programmable input/output characteristics |
DE19600997, | |||
DE19616516, | |||
DE202006006659, | |||
DE29611543, | |||
DE3800077, | |||
DE4316291, | |||
DE4402002, | |||
DE4438804, | |||
DE4438806, | |||
DE69816236, | |||
EP661915, | |||
EP896504, | |||
EP1569055, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 01 2008 | Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Aug 26 2009 | RASCHE, ALEXANDER | PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 023913 | /0759 | |
Aug 26 2009 | HUDETZ, HANS-PETER | PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 023913 | /0759 | |
Aug 26 2009 | HAUMERSEN, UDO | PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 023913 | /0759 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Nov 23 2015 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Dec 20 2019 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Dec 12 2023 | M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Jun 26 2015 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Dec 26 2015 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 26 2016 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Jun 26 2018 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Jun 26 2019 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Dec 26 2019 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 26 2020 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Jun 26 2022 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Jun 26 2023 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Dec 26 2023 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Jun 26 2024 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Jun 26 2026 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |